Alcademics.com

Reading About Drinking in San Francisco on February 5

I'm one of several writers reading about drinking at Drink Think, a series of this sort of thing usually based in New York. 

The event will take place at Cantina on February 5, 2103. More info is here.

I'm thinking about updating a beautiful "poem" I wrote called "Who Do I Have to F-- (To Get a Drink in This Bar)?" I last read this masterwork aloud ten years ago and someone wrote about it in the newspaper. You can read about that here.

So yeah, save the date. 

Ask an Irish Whiskey Distiller!

Have questions, big or small, about distillation? Whether you're going to Portland Cocktail Week or not you might be able to get some of them answered. 

We're fortunate to have Barry Crockett, Master Distiller for Jameson Irish Whiskey with us at Drink.Write for one seminar. He'll be on hand to answer questions about Jameson, Irish whiskey, and/or distillation in general. I'll be happy to ask any respectful questions that people leave in the comments and report back on them. 

So, anything you want to know? 

I'm curious, for example, to know about the flavor of salt and distillation. I asked a question on Facebook and some distillers answered but I want to know more. Since it appears NaCl doesn't pass through during distillation, why do some unaged spirits have a salty taste? And how about other 'mineraly' flavors? 

I'm also hoping for an update on the Irish whiskey landscape since Jim Beam purchased Kilbeggan. How will that affect other brands? 

What else? Information about the seminar is below. Ask away...

Tuesday October 23
10:30 – 11:30 AM
The Kennedy School Gymnasium 
Ask a Master Distiller
Have questions about distillation or Irish whiskey? We’ve got the guy with the answers. Barry Crockett, Master Distiller at Jameson, knows a thing or two about distilling, having grown up in The Distiller’s Cottage at the Old Midleton Distillery in Cork before taking on the role himself. Crockett will explain how Jameson is made, using both pot- and column-distilled spirit before aging, and we’ll open up the floor to questions about the product, Irish whiskey in general, and questions about distillation. Get as nerdy as you want! 
Speaker: Barry Crockett, Master Distiller of Jameson Irish Whiskey
Sponsor: Jameson Irish Whiskey

Writer/Blogger Seminars Announced for Portland Cocktail Week

Drink.Write is a sub-conference of Portland Cocktail Week for writers, bloggers, and other interested parties, with daytime seminars on Tuesday and Wednesday October 23 and 24. 

Drink.Write is open to all writers/bloggers/bartenders, not just those who specialize in cocktails and spirits. Just RSVP in advance, please. 

Please RSVP to camperenglish@gmail.com if you’ll be attending, and let us know if you’ll be attending both days or just Tuesday or Wednesday. We just need your name, email, and affiliation/website. 

If you've already applied to Drink.Write via the Portland Cocktail Week website and received confirmation, you still need to drop me a line so we can have an accurate count. Thanks.

 

Tuesday October 23
10:30 – 11:30 AM
The Kennedy School Gymnasium
Ask a Master Distiller
Have questions about distillation or Irish whiskey? We’ve got the guy with the answers. Barry Crockett, Master Distiller at Jameson, knows a thing or two about distilling, having grown up in The Distiller’s Cottage at the Old Midleton Distillery in Cork before taking on the role himself. Crockett will explain how Jameson is made, using both pot- and column-distilled spirit before aging, and we’ll open up the floor to questions about the product, Irish whiskey in general, and questions about distillation. Get as nerdy as you want!
Speaker: Barry Crockett, Master Distiller of Jameson Irish Whiskey
Sponsor: Jameson Irish Whiskey


Tuesday October 23
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM
The Kennedy School Gymnasium
Tequila Intensive
You know the difference between mixto and 100% agave tequila, and between blanco, reposado, and anejo. In this seminar, Jesus Hernandez, Master Distiller for Olmeca Altos Tequila, will provide deeper information on tequila production: How does the tahona affect the flavor of the spirit and how can you know in a blind tasting? What is the difference in flavor between Highland and Lowland tequilas? How does a professional taste? We’ll start there and learn as much as we can in this action-packed seminar.
Speaker: Jesus Hernandez, Master Distiller of Olmeca Altos Tequila
Sponsor: Olmeca Altos Tequila


Tuesday October 23
1:30 – 2:30 PM
The Kennedy School Gymnasium
From Writer to Bartender
Have you ever thought about trying your hand at bartending? This sure-to-be lively panel will be hosted by three bloggers who made the switch either full- or part-time: Blair Reynolds of B.G Reynold’s syrups and the just-opened Hale Pele in Portland; Erik Ellestad of the Savoy Stomp blog and bartender at Heaven’s Dog in San Francisco; and Matt Robold, mild-mannered programmer by day, blogger at RumDood.com, and bartender at 320 Main in Orange County and host of the Rum Society at Cana Rum Bar in Los Angeles at night. We’ll hear stories of their greatest successes and failures and get advice on convincing bar managers to give you a chance on the other side of the bar.
Speakers: Blair Reynolds, Erik Ellestad, Matt Robold
Sponsor: Four Roses Bourbon

Tuesday October 23
2:45 – 3:45 PM
The Kennedy School Gymnasium
Make Money Blogging
This seminar will focus on the many ways to earn money by blogging and using a blog as a business hub, including advertising, affiliate links, live-tweeting, running contests, self-publishing, recipe development, sending out email newsletters, teaching classes, judging contests, sponsored coverage, and much, much more! Our speaker is Camper English of Alcademics.com, who has managed to wrangle over ten thousand bucks out of his blog this year.
Speaker: Camper English
Sponsor: Perrier


Wednesday October 24
10:30 – 11:30 AM
The Kennedy School Gymnasium
Drink Porn 101: Know Your ISO from Your Aperture
Create beverage photography that sings, “Drink Me.” Learn how to boost your basic photo skills so your photos grab people, build buzz and drive traffic. We'll cover photo basics & terminology, learn to build a light box in a studio setting and take pictures in low-light locations (like a dark bar). We'll discuss a few tricks for creating engaging cocktail photos such as working your environment and capturing fast-moving bartenders. We’ll talk about post-production shortcuts and solutions as well as some quick guidelines on uploading and resizing imagery. The seminar, lead by professional drink photographer Jenn Farrington (Gourmet, GQ, San Francisco Chronicle, USA Today, Wine & Spirits) is catered toward people who want introductory photo tips to quickly advance the quality of imagery they’re using to represent themselves, their brands, their bars, etc. The seminar will be lead with bloggers, bartenders & brand ambassadors in mind, however it will interest all types of photo hobbyists.
Speaker: Jennifer Farrington, Photographer at Straub Collaborative
Sponsor: Montelobos Mezcal


Wednesday October 24
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM
The Kennedy School Gymnasium
Publishing Your Book
This seminar will give you the information needed to get your book idea into print, in one of three ways. Our speakers are Dave Stolte, author of the Kickstarter-funded Home Bar Basics; Frederic Yarm, author of the self-published Drink & Tell: A Boston Cocktail Book; and Natalie Bovis, who scored a two-book deal with a traditional publisher and since published a third. We’ll hear and how and why they published the way they did and open the floor to questions.
Speakers: Dave Stolte, Frederic Yarm, Natalie Bovis
Sponsor: Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Wednesday October 24
1:30 – 2:30 PM
The Kennedy School Gymnasium
Blogger to Writer: Making a Career Out of It

The luxury of blogging is that you can write what you want when you want. The advantage of getting paid for writing is, well, money. Our panelists will spill their tips and tricks on how to approach editors, what type of stories sell best, and how to use your blog to get paid gigs. Speakers are Greg Harned, who writes for Serious Eats and The Hooch Life; Lou Bustamonte, writer for Wine & Spirits, Tasting Table, and the SF Weekly; and Paul Clarke, a contributing editor to Imbibe magazine and writer for the San Francisco Chronicle and many other publications.
Speakers: Paul Clarke; Lou Bustamonte, Greg Harned
Sponsor: Sake One

Wednesday October 24
2:45 – 3:45 PM
The Kennedy School Gymnasium
Writers and PR: Can’t We All Just Get Along?
This seminar will be a conversation between writers/bloggers and public relations professionals, with an emphasis on how we can improve our relationships and get the most out of each other. We’ll address pet peeves and what we’re doing wrong (in each others’ opinions), find out what we most want from each other, and brainstorm ways to achieve those goals. This one is gonna be goooood. Panelists are Laura Baddish of The Baddish Group, Camper English of Alcademics, Daniel Djang from ThirstyInLA.com, and another PR professional TBA.
Speakers: Laura Baddish, Camper English, Daniel Djang, TBA
Sponsor: Four Roses Bourbon

 

Bartenders attending Portland Cocktail Week are welcome to attend Drink.Write seminars - I'm sure a few of you want to publish a cocktail book or learn about photography.

The Kennedy School is a great place to get work done. You’re busy and might need to sneak out of sessions to do work for part of the day – that’s totally cool with us! The Kennedy School has free wifi, and several bars and restaurants in which to work and eat.

Do you have friends who you think might be interested in Drink.Write? We’re open to all interested parties aged 21 and older. (This is to attend seminars only, not the parties at night.) We think these sessions will be of interest not only to cocktail writers, but to food, wine, beer, and entertainment writers, all bloggers, and some to bartenders as well.

Please just let us know if you’re attending and which day(s)- we need to make sure to have enough drinks! RSVP to camperenglish@gmail.com We just need your name, email, and affiliation/website.

We hope to see you soon in Portland.

Camper English to Receive Legends Award at San Francisco Cocktail Week

Well ain't I fancy! I'm happy to announce I will be one of the recipients of the Legends' Awards at San Francisco Cocktail Week on September 21. Scroll down for a big discount code to the awards ceremony.

The Legends Awards
Friday, September 21, 7:30-10:30 p.m.
Tickets: $85 in advance (booking a block of 10 will secure a table for groups) & $95 at the door

Location: The Swedish American Hall, San Francisco (2174 Market Street)
Tickets here. 

The second annual Legends Awards announces the recipients of the 2012 awards, going to the true innovators, influencers, mentors and historians of cocktail culture in the Bay Area. The 2012 award winners are:

• Trailblazer – Allison Evanow, CEO and Founder of Square One Organic Spirits, for her pioneering efforts in the development of high quality, organic spirits and green business practices in the industry.
• Mentor – Erik Adkins, Bar Director at Slanted Door Group, for developing pace-setting beverage programs and the skilled bartenders to execute them across multiple restaurants in the Bay Area over the last decade.
• Lifetime Achievement – Miles Karakasevic, 13th Generation Master Distiller at Charbay (pictured), for creating and building a family business that produces wine and spirits that attract worldwide acclaim and help to set a standard in craft production.
• Renegade – Martin Cate, Owner, Smuggler’s Cove, for being the torch bearer and leader for a new generation of Tiki cocktail culture and rum connoisseurship.
• Scribe – Camper English, Journalist, Alcademics.com, for his steadfast dedication to the craft of investigative journalism in spirits and cocktail culture, and his influence on the new generations of professionals and enthusiasts alike, seeking answers and debate.

I'm in some pretty good company there, right? 

Come bask in my glory at the awards ceremony - I'll make it cheaper for you to do so. What they haven't mentioned is that there will be food, TONS of drinks, blackjack tables, and 1960's style entertainment... including a Liberace impersonator! 

Use promo code LGNDS for a 20% discount on tickets to the Legends' Awards for Alcademics readers. 

I hope to see you there!

Cocktail Writers & Bloggers: What Do you Want to Learn?

I'm helping with the programming of  seminars geared toward cocktail and spirits writers and bloggers at Portland Cocktail Week October 21-25, 2012. I'd like your help.

Even if you're not planning to attend PDXCW, I would love to know what you, as a writer or blogger, would like to learn about writing/blogging/social media, about the booze production, about cocktails, etc. Then we'll try to find some content to serve up attendees at PDXCW and blog about to share with others.

We're open to ideas and I would love for you to leave them in the comments below. If you want to propose something specific-or even lead a seminar geared toward cocktail writers - you should fill out this form on the PDXCW website.

Suggestions to get you started:

Writing, Blogging, Social Media Skills

• How to interview bartenders
• Get more traction from Twitter
• Dark bar photography hands-on workshop
• Effective blog design
• Advanced WordPress skills
• Photoshop for non-photographers
• Profiting from Cocktail Blogging: Is it even possible?
• Public Speaking Workshop
• Making video content

Booze Skills

• How to taste spirits like a professional
• Tequila 201: Terroir, tasting, wood, tahona, etc.
• Wine 101 for Spirits Nerds
• Beer 101 for Spirits Nerds
• Distillation: pot vs. column stills
• Regions and Terroir in Scotch Whisky
• American Whiskey Intensive 
• How to Create Cocktails: a hands-on workshop
• From Blogger to Bartender
• The history of (a cocktail, tiki bars, etc.)
• Understanding Vermouth and Other Aperitifs

If any of these ideas sounds interesting, or if they inspire anything else you want to learn about or wish you knew already, please let me know in the comments. The more ideas the better. And don't be shy about filling in an application on the PDXCW website!

Thanks for your help.

Come Join the Wine Country Cocktail Competition on Monday August 6th

I'm helping judge the Wine Country Cocktail Competition in Napa Valley on Monday, August 6th. Tickets are still available to the event, which is sponsored by Charbay Distillery & Winery and Perfect Puree of Napa Valley.

Tickets are available here. Come say hello!

 

Talking About Aperitifs at SF Chefs August 5th

During the forthcoming (and awesome) SF Chefs event, I'm speaking on a panel.

Prime Your Palate

August 5th, 11 - 12 AM, Westin St. Francis, San Francisco

Information and tickets here.

Join Fine Cooking’s Senior Editor Denise Mickelsen, libation expert Camper English of Alcademics.com and bar stars Neyah White and Brooke Arthur for a pre-tent palate priming. We’ll discuss (and taste!) a delicious category of drinks that many Americans are unaware or wary of—aperitifs.

These light, low-impact, before-dinner drinks are just the thing to prepare your taste buds for a full day of tasting. Don’t miss this lively discussion about what makes a great aperitif and which bars in San Francisco offer the best examples. Attendees will leave with a new understanding of aperitifs, some recipes to try out at home and a roaring appetite ready for San Francisco’s finest food.

We've already picked the three drinks we'll be serving during the hour:

• Brooke Arthur's Sparkling Chrysanthemum
• Neyah White's Japanese Whisky Highball
• The classic Negroni Sbagliato

 

A Twitter Chat about Cocktails with TGI Friday's on June 28

Join me on Twitter June 28 at 5PM EST for a Twitter chat about cocktails with TGI Friday's. The hashtag for the event is #ItsAlwaysFriday. 

I'm hosting a Twitter Chat Party as a mixology expert in conjunction with TGI Friday's to talk about their new summer drinks and cocktails/mixology in general. The details:

Date: June 28th, 5-6PM PM EST (2-3 PM PDT) 

Hosts: @alcademics, @TGIFridays 

Follow along with hastag: #ItsAlwaysFriday 

Prizes: TGI Friday's will be giving out $25 gift certificates every 10 minutes during the chat, and one chatter will win a 16G iPad! 

The chat follows this week's announcement of new summer cocktails at TGI Friday's made with fresh ingredients like pineapple, watermelon, strawberries, and blackberries:

The Tiki Torch
Embrace the sweet heat of chipotle pineapple in this cocktail featuring Avion Silver Tequila, triple sec, lime juice, fresh pineapple, fresh lime and a sweet & spicy salt rim.

Fresh Watermelon Mojito
This remixed mojito blends Bacardi Rum, lime juice, fresh watermelon, agave, fresh mint and fresh-squeezed lime.
 

Strawberry Rum Smash
Hand-crafted Premium Atlantico Platino Rum, the brand co-owned by Enrique Iglesias, highlights this ultimate refreshment, featuring lemon juice, agave, fresh strawberries, fresh mint and fresh-squeezed lemons.

Blackberry Long Island Tea
Celebrate National Iced Tea Month with this twisted classic featuring Smirnoff Vodka, Bacardi Rum, Bombay Gin, Chambord, triple sec and fresh house-made sour mix now blended with blackberries and Sprite®.

So whether you want to talk about these new drinks in particular or cocktails in general, please join me next Thursday afternoon on Twitter. 

 

Disclosure: My participation in this event is being sponsored by TGI Friday's.